Interview: Second Follow-up with Carter Nichols

The witness, Carter Nichols, was identified as a student in the University of Mississippi Drama Department and a former student of the victim. At the detectives' request, the witness came into the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department for a follow-up interview. The interview was recorded with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Participants:

Detective T. Armstrong

Detective S. Murphy

Carter Nichols

Carter Nichols: You're lucky my lawyer is in court today, and I can't get ahold of him. He'd have a field day if I told him you were harassing me.

Detective Armstrong: We're not harassing you. If we were harassing you, you'd know it. No doubt.

Carter Nichols: Yeah, right.

Detective Murphy: Now Carter, you know, of course, you don't have to talk to us without your attorney.

Carter Nichols: I know. I've got things to do. Can we get this going?

Detective Murphy: So you're agreeing to talk to us without your attorney?

Carter Nichols: Yes. I am agreeing to talk to you. Does that sufficiently cover your asses?

Detective Murphy: For the record once again, please state your name and address.

Carter Nichols: Carter Nichols. 164 Courthouse Square, Oxford.

Detective Murphy: Do you know a young man named Cody Matthews?

Carter Nichols: Yeah. Weird kid with a stutter or something. I know who he is.

Detective Murphy: How well do you know him?

Carter Nichols: Not well.

Detective Armstrong: You've never gone out with him or anything?

Carter Nichols: What are you trying to say? I go with guys or something?

Detective Armstrong: Oh-ho, Carter. A little sensitive on that topic. No, I meant, you know, go out and party, that kind of thing.

Carter Nichols: No. He has no car. He's not in a fraternity. He's from Hickville, USA. Why would I hang out with him?

Detective Murphy: So you don't know him at all?

Carter Nichols: I'd recognize him, but that's about it.

Detective Murphy: Do you know a man named Paul Evans?

Carter Nichols: Nope.

Detective Murphy: He was Kimberly Pace's boyfriend.

Carter Nichols: That's too bad.

Detective Armstrong: Too bad that his girlfriend was murdered or too bad that he was dating her? Think he had bad taste or something?

Carter Nichols: Look, I'm not in a real good mood, Detective. I'll let you figure it out.

Detective Murphy: Maybe you don't like us talking to you about Kimberly's boyfriend because you were dating her too.

Carter Nichols: That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Detective Armstrong: Nah, that makes sense. Kimberly was cheating with you, but then she dumped you and went back to Paul Evans.

Detective Murphy: Evidently some people believe it. Witnesses have told us that you had something secret going on with Kimberly, and then she dumped you and that's the real reason why you wrote that letter to the DM.

Carter Nichols: Those witnesses are idiots.

Detective Armstrong: What if you teamed up with Cody Matthews to kill her?

Detective Murphy: Yeah. She dumps you. You write the letter. Then you connect with her stalker and the two of you off her.

Carter Nichols: That's just funny.

Detective Murphy: You're denying it?

Carter Nichols: Of course I'm denying it. You guys are just being stupid now. Is this a joke?

Detective Murphy: So you were not having a sexual or a romantic relationship with Dr. Pace?

Carter Nichols: No! Why would I waste my time with someone that old? She's a geezer.

Detective Murphy: Carter, Kimberly Pace was hardly old. She was 35.

Carter Nichols: Well, that may not be old to you, but to me, that's ancient.

Detective Murphy: Nice sentiment, Carter.

Detective Armstrong: Yeah, I'd like to see you in 15 years, and see if you've changed your tune. Of course, you're going to be pretty easy to find by then because the way you're leading your life, you're bound to be locked up by then.

Carter Nichols: What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Detective Armstrong: Just voicing an opinion.

Detective Murphy: Thanks for your time, Carter. I'm sure we'll be talking to you again real soon.

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